1.     Slow Down! Simple. With speed comes increased wind resistance, and wind resistance reduces gas mileage. Make a plan to drive in the right hand lane. Go a mile or two under the speed limit if you’re on a stretch of road where it won’t hamper other drivers, and stick to the speed limit at all other times.

2.     Brake Less! Brake when you have to of course, but don’t tailgate. Watch the traffic ahead of you and ease off the accelerator accordingly instead of getting right up behind another car and then using the brake to stay off them. Know where you have to stop and when you can, ease off the accelerator instead of getting close to that stop sign or signal or turn and using your brake to slow you down. Excess braking can reduce your mileage by over a third at highway speeds!

3.     Lose Weight! If you don’t need it, don’t haul it. Get better tires instead of hauling sandbags for winter traction. Put the lawn chairs and picnic stuff in the garage, and bring those cases of soda and the 50 pound bag of dog food into the house before you go anywhere. More weight means more gas.

4.     Turn off the Air. A/C reduces fuel efficiency, sometimes as much as 25 percent so if you can live without it, live without it. In light traffic, crack the driver’s and rear passenger’s window on the opposite side. On the highway¸ reduce the aerodynamic drive and close the windows and let the ventilation fan cool you.